THE fate of the historic yet derelict ABC Cinema is back in the balance again after months of legal wrangling over the site.

Developers planning to build two hotels and 112 flats have failed to sign a legal deal over land ownership and this week were warned by councillors: Sort it out this month or the whole scheme is off.

They won permission to demolish the cherished cinema, and Ye Boar's Head pub in Friar Street, at a tense meeting six months ago and were given one month to sign a legal agreement.

But the wrangle has forced them to beg councillors for more time on five subsequent occasions.

Councillor Tony Page won the backing of his colleagues at the planning committee on Wednesday when he blasted developers for dragging their heels.

He said: "This is the final extension I shall be supporting.

"I shall be lobbying very strongly if this comes back for it to be refused.

"If they cannot do the necessary legal work they aren't fit to be developing the streets of Reading."

Cllr Page said yesterday he believed developers had now solved the land ownership issue but reiterated his warning.

He added that he hoped the development would go ahead.

In September Cllr Page lobbied strongly for the development, advising fellow councillors that they were in danger of losing "a valuable application" if they delayed a decision in a bid to save the frontage of the art deco cinema.

Cllr Page said the delay had caused stress and anxiety for the residents of Shoesmiths Court, who were waiting to be bought out by developers, or to move in to new apartments in the complex.

Both Reading Borough Council and the developers refused to reveal what land ownership issues were being discussed, saying they were both "complex and commercially sensitive".

The new deadline for the developer to have the legal agreements in place is Monday, March 31.